One Day. 2 Different HBCUs. 2 Assaults Highlighting Responses To "Perceived Threats" To The Black Community

Wednesday, September 2, 2009. An infamous day in the history of Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in America. On this day, upon two different HBCU campuses the world got to see reactions to two "perceived threats" to the sanctity of Black America. Howard University in Washington DC was the scene of one of these "assaults". The Atlanta University Center in Atlanta which is the home of Spelman University, Clark-Atlanta University and Morehouse College was the location of the other "assault".


The Perceived Assault Upon Black People At Howard University

I received notice of the "assault" upon the Black community from several news and blog sites that I monitor as I work to keep abreast of the issues of note among my people. This was the first of the two events so I will focus upon this one first.

The news was that the chairman of the Republican Party had come onto campus and had "assaulted the Black community" by insulting the Black community. According to the Huffington Post's Dave Zirin - Republican Chairman Michael Steele came to campus and set up a "Whites only" reserved section in the front row of the assembly. It didn't matter that Mr Steele - who is an African-American - reserved these front rows for a group of "Young Republicans" who were his invited guest. The way the story went as delivered by HuffPo and distributed by the "Black Progressive-Fundamentalist" syndicate - Michael Steele put the White folks up front, leaving the Black students in the back - literally and symbolically.

Now keep in mind that it did not matter to HuffPo or their Black syndicates that this section was reserved for Republicans and that this group of Republicans where all or mostly White. It only mattered that they were able to look around the room and sought to find something that might undercut the outreach efforts of the force that they see are the most threatening to the Black community. This being the Republican Party.

Think about it. If the force that is caricatured frequently within the Black community actually starts to show up and speak for itself then some of these images painted by this third party with malicious intent may not resonate as strongly among the listeners. If I were an operative positioned as HuffPo and various BQPFRCs are I too would be concerned as they are and thus would consider manufacturing my own news from the event as a means of undercutting their forward movement upon "my turf".

Once again - The velocity of this news event leads me to believe that it is important to them:

• Jack & Jill Politics: Michael Steele Is A Slave Catching Coon
• Field Negro: Hip Hop Mike At Howard (Of course, we can't have those "young republicans" mixing with those black students.)

Indeed these operatives were offended by the assault upon Black people at this HBCU

The Assault Upon A Spelman Student On The Campus Of Clark Atlanta University

This is a picture of Jasmine Lynn, a 19 year old freshmen attending Spelman College, from Kansas City Missouri.

Her single mother wanted to send her daughter Jasmine to the top notch HBCU in the nation and thus she struggled to pay the $30,000 per year tuition because she wanted to deliver to her daughter the best education in support of her daughters goal to blossom into a productive citizen for her community. For America.

Today Ms Jasmine Lynn is dead.

She was murdered during an assault that happened on the campus of Clark-Atlanta University. She was walking down the street on campus, gleefully interacting with friends as she was known to do. Sadly a bullet that was fired from a gun that was involved in an argument between at least two men went flying and struck Jasmine in the chest. Her life dreams, her mother's dreams were punctured as this stray bullet stole the life out of her body.

AJC: Jasmine Lynn Dreamed Of Spelman For Years

Another male student was struck in the wrist by a bullet fired during the same conflict.

The Aftermath

This picture was captured from the memorial service in recognition of Jasmine Lynn.

AJC: Students Question Campus Safety After Co-Ed Killed On Campus

The Videos Show The Character Of Jasmine Lynn And The Emotions Of Those Who Loved Her


Jasmine Lynn's Mother Sheds Tears Over Her Murdered Daughter

University Presidents Hold A Press Conference Over The Murder Of A Student



ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

I refuse to use this girl's death to make a political point against those who I hold in contempt because of my ideological difference.

Instead I leave it upon the reader to start asking questions:

• Why is Michael Steele's talk with Black students more news worthy and worthy of attack than that which has happened - not just on this AU Center campus but on urban streets all over America during this "Bloody Summer"?
• Is there some perversion of the sensitivities and sensibilities of those people who make such a prioritization?
• Why is it that those who purport to be aware of the heart beat of the Black community have been so silent about that which so many of these Black students (especially the Black females) say is of top concern for them - Crime and Violence?
• Be mindful that these are those among our young people who have an opportunity to "escape the streets". Imagine the quanitity of our young people who are slained but not upon the campus of a prestigious college. This happens far more frequently yet their deaths receive less press.

I stated previously that I have no power to make any of these operatives who choose to promote their own agenda foregoe their ideological bigotry and begin to treat all threats to our community that have an equal power to destroy us as EQUAL - regardless of the person executing the threat, and most importantly - regardless of the presence or absence of a larger political or ideological point to be made.

All that I can do is to hold up the framework that has been developed from years of observations of the "permanent interests of Black people" and then measure these operatives against this transparent standard.

I prefer to allow my own voice to fall to the background and allow the BLACK PEOPLE CRYING ON THE NEWS to provoke bigoted hearts to change. More likely it will take the larger Black community to push them aside because their model for the priorities in our community don't represent the reality that threatens us upon the street.

Jasmine Lynn's mother: "Who ever did this to my baby I just ask them to surender their life to Christ and I forgive them."